Shingles: Treatment Overview

Going through a shingles outbreak can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when an individual does not know what to do. This purpose of this blog post is to demystify the treatment of shingles. Hopefully this post can help ease your mind and act as a helpful resource in understanding the treatment of shingles. 

Watch this video for a quick overview of shingles treatment around the 1 minute mark

Initial Treatment

     Treatment should begin as soon as the rash appears. In 2014, WebMD stated that receiving treatment within the first three days of the rash developing decreases the chance of developing more serious problems, such as postherpetic neuralgia. Without treatment, the American Academy of Dermatology (2014) notes that the rash can clear on its own, but that individuals can suffer pain, numbness, and itching or tingling skin for years. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are several medications that can treat shingles:

• Pain relievers: This is to help relieve the pain and itching that can come with an outbreak.
  
  
• Antiviral medication: Medications include famciclovir, valacyclovir, and acyclovir. These medications are especially important to receive soon after an outbreak in order to lessen the rash’s severity.


• Nerve blocks: These injections are used to number intense pain.



Talk to you doctor about the medications you should take

• Corticosteroids: When paired with anti-viral medicine, corticosteroid pills can decrease swelling and pain. Corticosteroids are prescribed cautiously because they can actually cause the rash to spread.
  
  
  
  

Ongoing Treatment

     The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014) notes that postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of shingles. PHN is when pain occurs in the area where the rash was, even after the rash heals. This pain can last week to years after an outbreak. It is important to receive initial treatment early on, as people that are 60 years of age and older with the shingles virus are more likely to have PHN compared to those 40 years old.  

Watch this short video for an overview of PHN.

     According to the Mayo Clinic (2012), there are several medications that can be used to help treat PHN. These medications include:

• Antidepressants: Medications include nortriptyline, amitriptyline, duloxetine, and venlafaxine. In small doses, the can help ease the pain of PHN.
• Topical anesthetics: Creams and patches containing lidocaine or capsaicin can relieve pain when applied to the affected area.
• Anticonvulsants: PHN can injure nerves in the body. Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or pregabalin can stabilize the nervous system and decrease the burning and pain.
• Opioids: Prescription pain medications can be given for extreme pain. They have a low risk of being addictive, but all medications should be discussed with your doctor. 
  
  
  Treatment for long-term complications caused by shingles depends on the specific condition. Click Here for a quick overview of these conditions and treatment options.
  
  
  
  References 

Shingles-Treatment Overview. (2014, January 3). WebMD. 

Retrieved November 7, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-

 

treatments/shingles/shingles-treatment- overview

 

Clinical Overview. (2014, May 1). Centers for disease control and prevention.

 

Retrieved November 7, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical

 

overview.html#complications

Top of Form

 

Postherpetic neuralgia. (2012, November 13). Mayo Clinic.Bottom of Form

Retrieved November 7, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/postherpetic-neuralgia/basics/definition/CON-20023743?p=1



Shingles: Recommendations for Family Members of Patients

     The video above shows that shingles not only affects the individual themselves, but their family members and others around them as well. This post is centered on the family members of patients, or anyone that has close and regular contact with an individual with shingles. 

Preventing the Transmission of Shingles

     When a person with shingles is experiencing an outbreak of rashes, the shingles virus is highly contagious when the sores are weeping.  Avoid direct contact with these sores or blisters in order to prevent contracting the shingles virus.  You do not have to be afraid of an individual when they have shingles! Shingles cannot be spread through cough, sneezing, or casual contact, as noted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

 

Pregnant women who have never had chickenpox
should avoid shingles blisters for the health of themselves
and the fetus

     The following individuals should be extra cautious and avoid close contact with weeping shingles outbreaks:

• Pregnant women, infants, children, or those who have never had chickenpox
• Those that are currently ill
• Those with a suppressed immune system, such as people diagnosed with HIV infection or diabetes

Click here! Talk to your doctor about getting
the chickenpox vaccine

     WebMD emphasizes that the fluid from the blisters can cause chickenpox, but not shingles, in those individuals who have never had chickenpox of who have never gotten the chickenpox vaccine. For those who have never had chickenpox: you can avoid getting chickenpox and later shingles by receiving the chickenpox, or varicella, vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the vaccine, which are about 98% effective at preventing chickenpox for children, adolescents, and adults. 

     If you have already been exposed to the shingles virus without having a prior case of chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, your healthcare provider may decide to administer the chickenpox vaccine to you. The CDC states that you should get the chickenpox vaccine 3 to 5 days after being exposed to the chickenpox virus to prevent developing the virus. 

Here is a helpful graphic to show the most common areas of shingles rash outbreaks.



Remember to avoid touching areas where blisters have not healed!
Click here for more information
 

 

Assisting with Shingles Treatment

Click here to learn about shingles prevention

    Shingles is treated with several different medications. If your loved one is experiencing a shingles outbreak, you can assist their healing process by helping them seek medical attention to obtain their medications. Pain medication, such as over-the-counter acetaminophen, can also be used to alleviate the pain caused by the shingles rash. 

     As stated in the previous blog post, there are many ways to treat shingles at home. Family members and loved ones can help shingles patients with self-care in several ways. Suggestions include providing a cool compress, soothing lotions, and other topical items to aid in pain relief. Family members can also help the patient de-stress and relax by providing them with items that comfort them, such as a book or calming song album. Keeping stress levels low can help a patient recover and take their mind off of the shingles pain. 

     Family members, and those close to a patient with shingles, can play an integral role in the treatment and recovery of shingles. Look at the resources below for more information about shingles transmission, treatment, and prevention! 

References

Common shingles rash sites. (2011, March 18). LIVESTRONG.COM.

Retrieved October 24, 2014, from

http://www.livestrong.com/article/83201-common- shingles-rash-sites/

Prevent shingles. (2014, August 25). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

            Retrieved October 24, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Shingles/

Protecting yourself from shingles | NIH MedlinePlus the magazine. (n.d.). 

U.S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved October 23, 2014, from

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter10/articles/winter

10pg16-17.html

 Vaccines: VPD-VAC/varicella/getting vaccinated after exposed. (2012, April 5). 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 20, 2014, from 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/basic-vacc-after-exposed.htm